Just wondering what's going on at the Surf Club. Latest trip advisor reports are not great. Lots of complaints about theover crowded conditions. Is this really true- or are these folks exaggerating? We go every Jan. and have never had problems with palapas, crowds at the pool, etc. If so, what are some good tips for getting a palapa/ bimini chair (without waking up at 6am to stand in line)

Be there next week ,I'll let you know when I get back.

We go every Jan. and Feb. and its not that bad. This year they will have the last building opened. That might be a different story. The palapas have to be rented this year. You can book it for 2 days and you can only use it a half day. Morning or afternoon. If you don't want that, they have lounge chairs with canopies over them for free. Its still a great place to stay. We have been on the Island 13 times and we have stayed at about every place there. We still prefer the Marriotts. Kent

every time i read about marriott and their charging for palapas.......it makes me want to scream.

how dare they?
their bottom line is huge
their earnings are great
they are a corporate monstrosity and have a huge profit

they charge top dollar for purchase of their timeshares worldwide.

then they have the nerve to charge for palapas.
shameful.

andrea

From everything I have read that the new buildings are opening so there are a good many more people staying at the resort than there has been in the past. Thus the reports of "over crowded" conditions.

Evidently there have been some changes to Surf Club/Ocean Club pool and palapa policies too.

Aruba Bound! ~ Hoosier Kitties ~ Our-Cruises ~ Blogging to Aruba
Back to paradise Trip #18
Christmas & New Years Aboard the Queen Mary 2

I just got back from the marriott surf club. I am a second year owner. The only reason why the hotel was a little packed was because the stellaris hotel is under major construction. As far as everything else the hotel was great.!! The new buildings are open next month, and as of the new year all ocean club members will not be able to use the surf clubs pools wich is a plus!

Hi Andrea,

Here's my answer to a similar thread on another board.

People don't seems to comprehend that Marriott doesn't own these buildings anymore. (Not even the hotel)
The TS owners are now the only owner of these resorts.
When people are giving money to rent palapas they are giving money to their home owner association
(not to Marriott) who then use this money to run the resort.

The HOA could easily add a few dollars more to each owner's maintenance fee and abolish the palapa rental procedure.
But then probably every owner would want to reserve a palapa every day just in case and that could not be done.
So to keep the whole palapas thing manageable the home owner association has decided to implement a fee for the user.
(At the Ocean Club half are still free every day)

When Marriott was the owner of the Stellaris and was charging $15 to rent a palapas to someone who had just paid $500/night that was outrageous...
Looks like people are confusing then and now...

Pierre
21 days at the Renaissance in
14 days at the Renaissance in

i understand your response, but i really don't buy it.
i would bet that marriott corporation is calling the shots and is liklely majority shareholder of their vacation club resorts.

who owns the marriott hotel stellaris casino?

i am really intrigued now.
tell me more!
andrea

The Marriott owns the Stellaris, and it is a joke that they charge 15 $ to rent a palapa, after charging what they do for the room. Unfortunately, thats capitalism, supply and demand rules. They do it because they can!

I miss the old days in Aruba, when I started going there, first time in 1976, there were 3 hotels in the high rise section - Concord (now the Westin), the Americana (now the Occidental Allegro), and Holiday Inn. It was much more laid back, enough good restaurants, but you didnt need a reservation, and never a problem getting a palapa.

Thats why I am going to St Kitts in February, everything I hear about it reminds me of Aruba back in the day. I'm sure its a bit different, but then again, it will be quieter. Only one large hotel (Marriott, of course).

marriott is liklely majority shareholder of their vacation club resorts.
Wrong once the TS are sold, Marriott own nothing nor remains a shareholder, they only manage the resorts for a percentage.

i would bet that marriott corporation is calling the shots
Not exactly, they sure have their way of running hotels and resorts still they have to negociate and decide in accordance with the HOA.
I know that presently they are managing for fee but as of now HOA as started some discussions about changing that for a fix yearly fee subject to an inflation adjustment.
One thing I have to admit, even if Marriott management is revocable by the owners the conditions for doing so are almost impossible to obtain.
(We're kind of stuck with them, for the better or the worst...)

See there is alot of misconseptions about Marriottville....

who owns the marriott hotel stellaris casino?
Stellaris was sold in 2006 for $237 million to the Caribbean Real Estate Opportunity Fund.
Marriott will continue to manage the resort for the new owners under a long-term management agreement.
For more info:
http://www.sonngold.com/press_show.asp?id=248

I could have add that this is the same thing with the Renaissance...
Just a management contract.

Pierre
21 days at the Renaissance in
14 days at the Renaissance in